'Do you believe in the BBC licence fee?' poll discussion

nikam

vokesey wrote: »

Also with all these people being against advertising, how exactly do you propose we learn about new products? or the latest offers?

By going out and looking in the shops?
Talking to their friends?
Moneysavingexpert.com?

vokesey

pennypinchUK wrote: »

Anyone who has spent any time in the US and watched their public service TV will know about the preposterous number of ad breaks in their programmes. Indeed, even a comparison in the UK between ITV and the minor channels makes the BBC compare favourably, simply because the programmes aren't constantly interupted by inane and repetitive adverts. While the BBC is far from perfect the license fee is worth it simply for being able to watch a programme from beginning to end, without interruptions.

The biggest problem faced by the commercial channels is that fewer companies are willing to spend as much on TV commercials advertising, preferring to spend their marketing budgets on more targeted, new media.

If the BBC becomes funded by advertisers, and advertising revenue declines much further there won't be a BBC or any other channels as we know them.

But you're talking about a different culture. We aren't america, and the suggestion that our tv would follow the same path as there's is a little wide of the mark i think, they also break up sporting events with ridiculous amounts of ads, but there sports are tailored that way, ours (other than cricket) aren't.

vokesey

Swan wrote: »

I do hope you're joking or that I've misread your post!

As technology has advanced there are increasing numbers of people who don't watch broadcast television, but use their tellys for purposes undreamt of when the licence fee was first introduced.

I think maybe the first quote is referring to having a pc and a tv card, in which case yes you do still need a license. Any time you purchase tv receiving equipment, you will be asked for your postcode, which is then checked against the tv license database, and if your'e not on there for whatever reason (like the license is in your wife's name for example!) you will receive a letter from the ss demanding an explanation, or your contribution.
this i know due to it happening when i bought a dongle for my recent holiday to afghanistan.

vokesey

nikam wrote: »

By going out and looking in the shops?
Talking to their friends?
Moneysavingexpert.com?

And what about the less mobile of the populous? who perhaps only go out when absolutely necessary?
Also no answer as to the knock on effect to employment of all those poor advertising types?:think:

vokesey

lucylucky wrote: »

Just for clarification you don't need to pay Sky anything to access satellite channels.

No, you don't, but you do need to purchase the equipment. and then pay to have it installed. Then when it goes on the fritz 3 times in a year you need to pay for the "engineer" to tell you what you already know. So it still costs.

vokesey

lucylucky wrote: »

The BBC does not exist merely to entertain, parts of its role are to inform and educate too.

Something else also covered by many other channels!

vokesey

gsddusty1 wrote: »

I question why I had to pay the licence fee as I am in an area which has switched over to digital. I do not have a digital TV and so therefore have to pay sky subscription to watch TV. As I cannot receive normal terestrial TV except through sky to my way of thinking I shouldnt have to pay licence fee. However I was advised that legally I have to pay although I cannot get channels without sky. I find this offensive. Even worse I live in a rural area and so cable tv etc is not an option so my only choice is sky or buying a digital TV.

Although you've had to fork out for sky, you need only pay for the equipment and installation. you don't need any packages to receive the usual channels you were used to before the switchover. Not teaching you to suck eggs, just sounds like maybe you've been sold something you don't need. You could also just have bought a set top box from any supermarket for about £20 that'll get you "freeview" channels, you still need to pay the bbc tax though.

nikam

vokesey wrote: »

And what about the less mobile of the populous? who perhaps only go out when absolutely necessary?
Also no answer as to the knock on effect to employment of all those poor advertising types?:think:

I'm all broken up about those poor advertisers. Maybe they can sit next to the poor BBC types you put out of work when you scrapped the licence fee

My elderly and semi-mobile father seems to manage just great getting his latest offers and product news online.

And before you say "and what about the ones who don't have the internet", remember that you'll be - in effect - proposing that television advertisements are a valuable service to a miniscule minority of the populous who

a) have no friends to talk to
b) cannot see billboards, or the sides of buses and taxis,
c) cannot hear radio advertising,
d) cannot read advertising in newspapers and magazines.

I agree with you on the issue of choice a hundred per cent. but justifying the further spread of television commercial advertising as somehow beneficial (when there are no shortage of other media by which to advertise) is a bit daft!!

lucylucky

vokesey wrote: »

No, you don't, but you do need to purchase the equipment. and then pay to have it installed. Then when it goes on the fritz 3 times in a year you need to pay for the "engineer" to tell you what you already know. So it still costs.

But you do not have to pay Sky and if you are buying equipment that goes wrong 3 times a year I would suggest you are making an unwise purchase.

vokesey

rapido wrote: »

Not really sure where that applies...? Where can you only receive ITV but not BBC?

The whole country is available to receive all the BBC channels via satellite free-to-air, if they cannot be received terrestrially.

-rapido

So now you're saying if you happen to be in an area where it isn't possible to receive the bbc channels normally, you should pay out for sky just to justify the fact that you have to pay for the other guff you can't get anyway?! Nice one, do you work for the bbc by any chance?